Primary battery.



H. E R. LITTLE PRIMARY BATTERY. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912.

1 @$,%6@@ Patented M11229, 1913.

WITNESSES I an sas s 1 are it HOMER E. R. LITTLE. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-

PRIIVIARY BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Apr. 29, 1913.

Application filed July 26, 1912. Serial No. 711,693.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionof primary cell in which the active agent is a gas adapted to becontinuously supplied during the use of the cell.

y A still further object of the invention is to provide a primary cellfrom which a maximum voltage is secured and in which the various unitsmay be so arranged that they may be placed in series without increasingthe internal resistance so that substan' tially the full voltage of eachunit of the cell is received from the binding post.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, a housing, preferably ofsteel, is provided in which a plurality of units or independent cellsmay be arranged in series or in which only one cell or unit may beplaced. of metal and has a metallic electrode and a carbon electrodesubstantially insulated from each other but connected by a suitableelectrolyte so that when the proper gas is forced into the cell achemical action will result for producing or causing an electricalcurrent to be generated. The continuous supplying ofrnew gas willmaintain the cell in a working condition until certain of the parts havebeen entirely consumed or dissolved by the action of the gas 5 andelectrolyte, whereupon new parts must be substituted in order tocontinue the use of the cell. i

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a lon itudinal vertical section through a cell of tie deviceembodying the invention; Fig. Qis a section through Fig.

The cell proper or unit is formed.-

is an inverted perspective view of a carbon electrode embodying certainfeatures of the invention.

In forming a device embodying the invention, 1t will be understood thatthe active elements are a metal, preferably zinc, and a halogen, as forinstance chlorin or bromin. These active agents are so arranged that bya continuous supply of the chlorin gas the action of the battery Wlll becontinued until the zinc or other activemember is consumed. In thedrawings will be seen one embodiment of the invention, though it will beunderstood that various changes in materials and detail structures maybe used at various times without departing from the spirit" of theinvention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates ahousing, preferably of steel, to which is secured a binding post 2whereby it will be observed that the housing 1 acts as one electrode. Abinding post 3 is provided on the to or cover 4 of the housing 1 andwhich is insulated therefrom and which is connected with a metallicmember 5. nccted with suitable binding bolts or posts 6 and '7 mountedon a rubberor celluloid covering 8. and 7 extend through the coveringmember 8 and are secured to a metallic plate 9' in any desired way, asfor instance by being soldered thereto. The plate-9 is adapted to reston an electro-plated portion 9 provided on the carbon electrode 10. Theelectrode 10 is provided with a plurality of grooves 11 extending acrossthe same but falling The metallic member 5 is con-- The binding posts orbolts 6 short of the sides, whereby ridges or corruv aflin so as to fillthe spaces of the porous carbon. This will protect the electro-platedsurface 9 while the cell is in operation from the electrolytic action ofthe salts insolution, which would otherwise creep up through the porouscarbon. The electrode 10 is arranged in a zinc container 16 which 55 1approximately on the line 2-2; and Fig. 3 is lined on the sides and endswith celluloid i as or hard rubber 17 so as to prevent contact betweenthe sides and en'ds and the electrode.

Arranged immediately below and supporting the electrode,10, is a sheet18 of asbestos 5. cloth, preferably of the kind that is woven so, thatthe same may be more or less porous so as to permit a proper circulationof the electrolyte, which is preferably an aqueous solution of a halogensalt. Immediately below the asbestos'sheet 18 is arranged a zinc orother metal electrode 19 formed preferably of gridinonshape. Below andsup orting the electrode 10 is a frame 20 pre 'erably of zihc whichrests on the bottom of the container and which supports the electrode 19and other members arranged above the same. The frame 20 rests directlyon the bottom of the container 16 so as to permit the" free passage ofcurrent from the bottom df the container through frame 20, electrode 19,the aqueous solution impregnating ithc cl th 18, and the carbonelectrode 10. f The container 1t is spaced from the sides and ends ofthe housing-1 by suitable-corner spacing members Qlso that when the gasis forced in through pipe 22 a free circulation of the same may be had.

In order to prevent the gases from aflecting the cell housing 1, a leadinner covering 23 is provided which will permit the free passage of anelectrical current, but will protect the housing.

Each of the containers 16 is provided with passageways 24 for permittingthe gases to pass downward into succeeding containers, as for instanceinto the container 16, when the same are arranged in series.

in the same housing.

It will be evident that any number of the cells could be arranged in thesame housing Without departing from the spirit of the invention, so thatfrom one housing a large voltage could be drawn as well as acomparatively large amperage.

By providing the plating 9 on each of the electrodes 10 when a pluralityof cellsare arranged in a single housing the same may be easilyconnected in series, namely, by merely assembling the various cellstogether.

After the cell has been properly asse1n-- bled, an aqueous solution of ahalogen salt, of which salt, the chemical atlinity of its halogenradical is less t-han'that of the halogen gas admitted into the 'cellduring the fill the open space in the frame 20-, electrode 19, cloth 18,and part of the open space of e the grooves 11. This solution serves notI only as an electrolytic solution,'but acts to dissolve the salts'formed during the dis,-'

charge of the cell. After this aqueous solution has been placed in thecell the same is ready for use as soon as gas of theproper kind issupplied to pipe 22. suitable operation thereof, is poured into thecellto.

valve 25 is provided in pipe 22 forregulating the flow of gas therein,and a suitable v valve 26 is provided for regulating the flow of air andgas from housing 1. During the first part of the operation of the cellthe same is charged with halogen gas, as for instance compresed chloringas, and valves 25 and 26 are opened, whereupon the gas cal is displacedwhich is of higher specific gravity and which is also soluble in thesolution so that the same remains therein. This liberated halogenradical comingin contact with the electrode 10 immediately reactsthrough the electrolyte on the zinc electrode 19 to again form zinchalogen, and. is ,again immediately released by more chlo risp to againreact on the zinc electrodeso a to again form zinc halogen. This 0oration is continued during the use of t eat.

cell whereby current may be drawn from the binding posts 2 and-3.

It will be observed that the action of the chemical parts of the cell donot depend upon the original eletrolyte placed therein as in theordinary primary cell, but upon a ltofltinuous fresh supply'of chlorinso that the cell may. work at a maximum efficiency continuously Withoutinjury.

It will of course be evident that when.- ever zinc electrode 19 isdissolved or eatenup. the same must be renewed. It will also be evidentthat the electrolyte in time must be renewed. l

Having thus described my invention -1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A primary cell comprising a housing,

a zinc container, a carbon electrode arranged in saidcontainer, a zincmember arranged in the bottom bf-said container, means" forsupporting'said carbon electrode above said zinc member and out ot'contact therewith, an electrolyte formedof a halogen salt between saidzinc member and said carbonelectrode, and means for directing chloringas to the upper surface oft-said s electrolyte for acting on .theelectrolyte and zinc whereby electrical energy is produced.

2. A primary cell comprising a housing, a container in said housing, azinc frame arranged in the bottom of said container, a]

fibrous sheet arranged above :said zinc frame, a carbon electroderesting n said fibrous sheet, an electrolyte comprising. an aqueoussolution of halogen salts, and means for directing chlorin gas to theupper'surfaceof the electrolyte.

3. A primary cell comprising a housing, a metal container, arranged insaid housing, a plate acting as an active agent arranged in saidcontainer, a porous spacing sheet supported by said active agent, acarbon electrode resting on said porous sheet, an electrolyte comprisingan aqueous solution of halogen salts contacting with agent and partiallysubmerging said carbon electrode, and means for directing chlorin gas tothe surface of said electrolyte.

4. A primary batterycomprising a metallic housing, a metallic containerarranged in said housing and in contact therewith, a carbon electrodearranged in said container, a zinc plate arrangedin the container, meansfor spacing said zinc plate from said carbon electrode, an electrolytecomprising a compound of a halogen radical capable of being replaced bychlorin,- means for directing chlorin gas into contact with saidelectrolyte for acting on said electrolyte whereby a halogen radical isliberated, said halogen. radical contacting with said carbon electrodeand depolarizing the same, a binding post connected with said housing,and means for connecting a binding post" with said carbon electrode. I

5. A. primary cell comprising a housing,

a container arranged in said housing, a

covering for the inner walls of said con-- tainer for protecting saidwalls from the electrolyte of said cell, a zinc frame arranged adjacentthe bottom of said con-- tainer, a porous sheet of spacing materialarranged above said zinc -rame, a carbon electrode resting on saidporous sheet, an electrolyte arranged in said container and submergingsaid zinc frame, said porous sheet, and part of said carbon electrode,means for directing chlorin gas to the sur face of said'electrolyte,means for connecting a binding post with said housing, and means forconnecting a binding post to said carbon elect-rode. i I

6. A primary cell 'comprising a housing,

'a container arranged in said housing, a zlnc framework arranged in thebottom of said vcontainer, a zinc gridiron shaped member arranged abovesaid framework, an asbestos sheet arranged above said gridiron shapedmember, a carbon electrode formed with a plurality of ridges resting onsaid asbestos sheet, an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution ofhalogen salts, and

the active;

means for directing chlorin to the upper surface of the electrolyte.

7. A primary cell comprising a metallic housing, a metallic containerarranged in said housing and contacting therewith, an insulating liningfor the side and end walls of the container, a plate acting as an activeagent arranged in said container, a porous spacing sheet arranged abovethe active agent,-a carbon electrode formed with ridges resting on saidporous spacing sheet, an electrolyte contacting with the active agentand partially submerging said carbon electrode, and means for directingchlorin to the surface of said electrolyte.

8. A primary cell comprising a metallic housing, a zinc containerarranged in said housing and contacting therewith, a zinc memberarranged adjacent the bottom of said container, a porous fibrous sheetar ranged above said metallic member, an electrolyte submerging the zincmember, and fibrous sheet, an electrode resting on said fibrous sheetwhereby the lower part thereof is submerged, means for directing chlorinto the surface of said electrolyte, means for connecting said electrodewith a binding post, and means for connecting the binding post to saidhousing-which acts as a terminal connection to said first mentionedelectrode.

9. A primary cell' comprising a cell housing, a zinc container arrangedin said housing and contacting therewith, a rubber covering for theinner Wall" of said container, a zinc frame resting on the bottom ofsaid container, a zinc gridiron shaped electrode resting on said frame,an asbestos sheet resting on said electrode, a carbon electrode formedwith a plurality of grooves, said carbon electrode resting on saidasbestos sheet, an electrolyte arranged in said container, andsubmerging said zinc frame, said first mentioned electrode, asbestossheet, and part of said carbon electrode, means for directing a halogengas to the surface of said electrolyte, means for connecting a bindingpost to said housing, and means for connecting a binding post to saidcarbon electrode.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

nor/inn E. a. LITTLE.

\Vitnesses J ()HN E, MCNAB, E. B. KEARNEY.

